Last week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a koala in a kingdom. You can create a character out of Norah’s koala and give it a Vermont adventure. Or you can make up a story however you want! Can you pull off a BOTS (based on a true story)? Go where the prompt leads!
While most prompts run for just one week, this one runs for two as Charli has been in Vermont conducting the inaugural and very successful Carrot Ranch Writers’ Refuge.
Although I submitted A kingdom for a Koala in response to the prompt last week, I thought I’d have another go this week. The koala is one of my favourite Australian animals and also the animal emblem of my home state Queensland.
I always list Koala Lou by Mem Fox among my (many) favourite picture books. (You can listen to Mem read it by following that link.)
Little Koala’s Party — a story for problem solving is one of my favourite readilearn teaching resources. The story engages children in helping Little Koala work out the number of guests and items required for her party. They can then use the same strategies to organise a party of their own. I always loved the illustrations that were done by an artist I met on 99designs.
That’s a lot of favourites so how could I not write another koala story? I decided that, for this week’s story, I would link Charli’s prompt with thoughts of a party. I hope you like it.
Surprise Party for a Koala
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Little Koala’s eyes pinged open.
There it was again. BANG! BANG!
She stretched, clambered down the tree and headed towards the noise.
She stopped under possum’s tree and peered into the branches.
“What’s going on here?”
Possum peeked out, glancing left and right. “Nothing.”
“Tell me!”
“Nothing. Go away.”
Koala scrambled up the tree. “What’re you doing?”
Possum grimaced, pointing to a sign.
“You know I can’t read yet.”
Possum placed a crown on Koala’s head. “It was supposed to be a surprise. Happy birthday.”
Koala felt special as a princess when all her friends arrived.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your comments. Please share your thoughts.
Lovely story, Norah and I love your pictures! So cute 🙂
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Thanks so much, Sherri. 🙂
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SMAG, sweet friend 🙂 ❤
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SMAG! 🌻😍
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😀 ❤ 🙂
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Happy birthday, Koala! Thanks for this gift, Norah. I enjoyed your flash.
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Thank you, D. 🙂
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This is such a cute story, Norah. Thanks for sharing it and giving me a happy start to my Friday.
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Aw, thanks, Robbie. I’m pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂
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When everyone is a winner – that’s a good party.
Always room for another Koala story 🙂
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Thanks, Jules. I think so too. 🙂
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Tooo dear Norah thank you. Is the lovely graphic the cover of YOUR book? Am curious … 🙂
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Aw, you’re so sweet, Susan, thank you. The cover of a story I wrote and available as a digital story on readilearn is the one towards the end of the post called “Little Koala’s Party”. The one at the top of my post with the post’s title on it includes an image (the koala but nothing else) from the book but isn’t the cover. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for asking. 🙂
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SO sweet. How could it not be sweet, with a Koala bear and a Norah 99-word story? I love the idea of possum trying to nail up a sign. Well done. (Cute illustrations you made too.) I’m sad to say I’ve never seen a real Koala bear, but the way you write of them here, and the book you love so much, makes me wish I could hope on a plane to Australia.
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Thanks, Pam. I appreciate your kind words of support. And please hop on that plane and come down to visit me here. I’ll take you to meet a little koala. 🙂
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You are tempting me…. 🙂 xo
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Be tempted! 🙂
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❤
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Aw, love that little story, Norah!! 🙂
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Aw, thanks, Robin. 💖
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Nice story, Norah. I love Mem Fox.
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Thanks, Jennie. Mem Fox is one of my heroes. 🙂
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One of the best! My favorite book of hers is “Tough Boris.”
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It’s a good one too. Most of them are. 🙂
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🙂
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Aw, that was so sweet. ❤
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Thank you, Debby. 🙂
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❤
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Very lovely, Norah! I miss meeting one of these little bears in real. But i read, they can be angry too. 😉 Michael
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Thanks, Michael. I have heard they can be angry at times (especially in the mating season, I think) but never experienced it. 🙂
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🙂🙂
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super sweet, love it!
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Aw, thanks so much, Kate. 🙂
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my pleasure, really did enjoy it 🙂
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💖
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Very sweet, Norah, and perfectly apt that you should have an extra bash at the prompt. (And you can’t have known it, but on my book birthday too!)
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I didn’t know it, Anne, but I wish I had. Then I could have included it. I like your birthday post though. Congratulations, and many happy sales! 🙂
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I may fall in love with koalas, Norah. Darling story.
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Koalas are adorable and easy to love, Jacqui. 💖 I’m pleased you enjoyed the story.
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Nice and sweet poem, Norah and they are looking such cute little darlings. Lovely post.
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Thank you, Kamal. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.
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Welcome Norah.
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